Means for suppressing the resistance of the negative-electrode flame in vapor electric apparatus.



P. C. HEWITT. MEANS FOR SUPPRESSING THE RESISTANCE OF THE NEGATIVE ELECTRODE FLAME IN VAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. I910.

Patented Got. 26, 19M,

WIT/#58858:

PETER GOOPER HEWITT, GE RINGWOOD MANOR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MJESNE ASSTGENTS, T0 COOPER, HEWITT ELECTRIC COMPANY, 0T HOBOKEN, NEW JER- $EY, A. COR/P0 r TION 01E NEW JERSEY.

MEANS FOR SUPPRESSING THE RESISTANCE QT THE NEGATIVE-ELECTRODE FLAME IN (TOR ELECTRIC APYAEATUS.

Patented @ct. 26, 1915.

original application filed March 21, 1902, Serial No. 99,333. Divided and this applicationflled. March. 11,

. 1910. Serial No. 5%,671.

the 17th day of September and the 3rd day of December, 1901.

The operation of electric vapor lamps, such for instance, as that type of the G00 er- Hewitt lamp in which mercury is use as the negative electrode, is generally accompanied by the appearance at the negative electrode of a flame which, while being somewhat unstable when the surface of the negative electrode is irregular or subject to alteration, proceeds from the negative electrode in a direction at right angles to the surface at which the current enters the said electrode. By a proper selection of the plane of the negative electrode surface, the direction which this negative flame shall take, can, accordingly, be predetermined.

The investigation of the resistance of a vapor lamp, such as described, shows that when this negative flame takes the direction of the path of the current between the positive and negative electrodes of the lamp, the total resistance ofthe lamp is considerably greater than when the negative flame puts ofl at an angle to the current path. The excess in resistance under the conditions first named, may equal or exceed fifteen per cent. of the total resistance.

It will be understood that the negative flame referred to is practically useless as a source of light, for which reason the electromotive-force required to overcome the resistance occasioned by this flame serves no useful function in the lamp and is not only practically wasted but is detrimental. In order to insure that the energy applied to a lamp of this class shall be utilized in the light-giving portion thereof, without needless waste, T provide means whereby the surface of the negative electrode shall be so arranged as to insure the projection of the negatlve flame outside the path of current through the lamp. The present invention relates to means for accomplishing that end.

It is also found that the direction of the negative flame is changed by theaction of a magnet or solenoid, the flame tending to he in and along the lines of force. Where it is desired that the negative flame should be out of a right line to the main path of the current, a magnet or a solenoid may furnish a convenient means for accomplishing this result but the deflection of the flame in this way by a magnet or solenoid has the efl'ect of increasing the resistance of the lamp instead of decreasing it. In general it may be said that a Wide deflection of the negative flame is desirable when produced by mechanical means, and a condition of no deflection is desirable when produced by magnetic means. The eflect of the magnetic action is to maintain the flame in a stable condition.

The provisions referred to in the foregoing paragraphs are based upon the fact that the negative flame proceeds substantially at right angles to the entrance plane of the current. This means that the entrance surface of the negative electrode should be out of a plane at right angles to the path of the current, in order to cause a suitable position of the negative flame.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a similar view of another form of lamp in which the deflection of the negative flame is secured; Fig. 2 shows still another type of lamp for the same purpose, this lamp being designed for operation in a horizontal position. Fig. 3 shows external means for deflecting the negative flame;

In the drawings, 1 is a tube or container of glass and 2 and 5 are, respectively, the positive and negative electrode of my lamp. The electrodes are connected through the walls of the lamp to the respective leadwires, 7 and 8. In Fig. 1, the positive electrode is of iron and the negative electrode is of mercury, or mercury in combination with a projecting piece of metal, generally iron. The negative flame is shown at 3.

affords room for the negative flame, so that it will not strike the wall of the container, for otherwise it would be liable to perforate the wall and destroy the lamp. The size of this enlargement also in a measure controls the heat-radiating capacity of the lamp. With a lamp constructed as illustrated in Fig. 2, the flame takes the direction indicated in the drawing and finds room enough without danger of striking the container I wall.

With respect to the lamp illustrated in Fig. 2, it will be seen that it is provided with lugs or extensions, 15, 15, formed in the glass on opposite sides of the enlargement 14.

These lugs maybe hollow if desired. The

lamp as a whole is supported in any convenient manner, as for instance, by inserting the lugs or extensions 15, 15, in the eyes of a U-shaped spring supporting iece, 16, or

other suitable form of socket. he negative electrode 5, consists of free mercury at the bottom of the lower lug. In practice I have found that although the lamp is in a horizontal position the liquid mercury does not accumulate at the positive end of the lamp, but remains at the negative end, which, owing to the construction, is the coolest part. This is probably due in part to the fact that the enlarged portion of the chamber about the negative electrode acts as a condensing chamber and in part, to certain electrolytic actions tending to carry the mercury from this positive to the negative electrode. The support 16 may be secured by screws or otherwise to a vertical wall or a vertical support of any suitable sort, and the lugs can be inserted in place by first separating the spring arms of the supporting piece 9 and then allowing the arms to drop back so that a; mamas the eyes surround the lugs or extensions 15, 15.

As a detail of construction in the lamp illustrated in Fig. 2, I form in or on the glass at the end near the positive electrode a lug 10, serving as a means of support for a Wire 13 which is first connected to the lead-wire running to the electrode 2, then to the lug 10, and then, after running the length of the tube l,- is wound about one of the extensions 15, and around the rear end of the lamp back of the negative electrode as shown at 11. This rear end of the lamp is first covered, however, with tin foil, 9, or other metallic foil, the foil being also carried down around the enlargement to a point just above the level of the mercury electrode in the lower lug. A suitable metallic paint may be substituted for the metallic foil.

In Fig. 3 is shown another means for causing a deflection of the negative flame, namely an electro magnet outside of the container shown at 12. The reference characters in Fig. 3 correspond to the same parts in Figs. 1 and 2.

This application is a division of my application filed March 21st, 1902, Serial Number 99,333.

I claim as my invention 1. A vapor electric device comprising an exhausted container, a solid anode located in an approximately horizontal tubular extension thereof, a mercury cathode located in the main chamber, the said tubular extension having its axis parallel to the surface of the cathode.

2. A vapor electric device comprising an exhausted container, an anode located in an approximately horizontal tubular extension thereof, a cathode located in the main chamher, the said tubular extension having its axis parallel to the surface of the cathode.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 10th day of March, A. D. 1910.

PETER COOPER HEWITT.

Witnesses:

WM. H. Caren, Tnos. H. BROWN.

topics of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' "Washington, D. G. 

